Vending machine with means preventing inadvertent multiple package vending



March 3, 1970 A, PIERCE ET AL 3,498,499

VENDING MACHINE WITH MEANS PREVENTING INADVERIENT MULTIPLE PACKAGE VENDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 19, 1968 INVENTORS RICHARD A.P|ERCE BOB L. TODD WALTON e. TUTT JIMMIE w. TUTT ATTORNEYS v 5PT.. 5 I R 0 mm 2 M 6 RA P March 3, 1970 R. A. PIERCE E AL 3,498,499

VENDING MACHINE WITH MEANS PREVENTING INADVERTENT MULTIPLE PACKAGE VENDING Filed Nov. 19, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTORS RICHARD A. PIERCE BOB L. TODD WALTON G. TUTT JIMMIE W. TUTT ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE ired States This specification discloses apparatus and method im- I provements in vending merchandise from a machine including a plurality of vertical racks adapted to contain a column of stacked horizontal rows of packs of merchandise to be vended, a flat member mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the packs, and a plurality of reciprocating means operable in conjunction with a main reciprocating member responsive to deposition of coins to vend, selectively, an ultimate pack from a selected rack, characterized by a pack retaining means mounted on a component part of the machine and retained in a neutral position out of contact with any of the packs when said machine is not in a vend cycle and adapted to move into contact with the penultimate horizontal row of packs at the beginning of a vend cycle to exert a compressive force on the penultimate horizontal row of packs against .the flat member during the vend cycle, the compressive force being suflicient to retain the penultimate pack in the selected rack position and prevent tiling but not so great as to effect appreciable distortion of the pack; the pack retaining means being moved out of contact with the penultimate row of the packs by a follower member responsive to movement of the main reciprocating member at the end of the vend cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to machines for vending merchandise in substantially uniform packs. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for holding the vendable packs of merchandise in a coin-controlled vending machine against unintended vending of multiple packs through fraudulent or faulty operation of the machine.

Description of the prior art Many conventional coin-controlled vending machines include a plurality of substantially vertically arranged racks each containing packs of merchandise to be vended selectively upon manual operation of selected vending means. As is common in such machines, the vending means is normally locked by an associated coin-controlled mechanism such that the reciprocating means of the vending means can be actuated to vend merchandise only after coins have been deposited to unlock the coin-controlled mechanism. 1

In many instances, the conventional machines have been designed for relatively short packs. Later versions of the merchandise have been marketed in longer packs for which the conventional machines have been inadequate. Specifically, the conventional machines, having a relatively short supporting shelf for the packs, have allowed tilting of the longer packs of merchandise in the vertical racks such that multiple packs could be vended by vibrating or shaking the machine at a particular point in the vend cycle. The prior art machines have been unsatisfactory in preventing this tilting of the packs during the vend cycle, and the consequent multiple vending of packs from the particular rack from which a pack is to be vended.

Specifically, the known prior art has included individual fingers that bear against the bottom packs in the racks not being vended but disengage the packs in the rack being vended. Thus, it can be seen that such prior art devices are of no help in solving the problem of the tilting of the packs in the vending of multiple packs from a selected rack during the vend cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial isometric View of a vending machine of the prior art illustrating the problem of the tilting of the packs and consequent multiple vendings.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention for alleviating the difliculties with the tilting of the packs and the consequent multiple vendings.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of one embodiment of the invention during a vend cycle for a selected rack.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 3 in its neutral position when the vending machine is not in a vend cycle.

FIG. 5 is a partial isometric showing placement of one embodiment of the invention in a vending machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improvement in a method of vending merchandise arranged in horizontal rows of vertical columns of elongated packs from a machine designed for short packs and selectively operable in a vend cycle. The improvement comprises the steps of:

(a) Mounting a pack retaining means at a neutral position out of contact with the packs within the machine, the pack retaining means having a front portion adapted to compressively retain in position a penultimate horizontal row of the packs without distortion;

(b) During a vend cycle, moving the pack retaining means into contact with the penultimate horizontal row of packs and compressively retaining the penultimate horizontal row of packs'against a transversely mounted member for the duration of the vend cycle; and

(c) Returning the pack retaining means to the neutral position at the termination of the vend cycle, whereby tilting of the packs and inadvertent vending of multiple packs during a single vend cycle is prevented.

Also in accordance with the invention, there is provided an improvement in a merchandise vending machine including a plurality of vertical racks adapted to contain a column of stacked, horizontal rows of packs of merchandise to be vended, a flat surface mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the packs, and a plurality of reciprocating means operable in conjunction with a main reciprocating member responsive to deposition of coins to vend selectively an ultimate pack from a'selected rack. The improvement comprises a pack retaining means mounted on a component part of the machine and retained in a neutral position out of contact with any of the packs when the machine is not in a vend cycle and adapted to elongated member to the machine and having spring means urging the elongated member toward the flat surface of the machine, and a follower member adapted to move the elongated member away from the flat surface and out of contact with the packs in response to movement of the main reciprocating member at the termination of the vend cycle.

The invention can be clearly understood by referring to the figures of the drawing. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional machine 11 for vending packs of cigarettes by manual operation of reciprocating means 13 after coins have been deposited in and unlocked a coin-controlled mechanism (not shown). The specific coin-controlled mechanism and the specific manually actuatable reciprocating means form no part of the present invention except insofar as the reciprocating means is effective to permit movement of the main reciprocating member on which the pack retaining means of the invention depends for movement into the neutral position. Accordingly, the coin-controlled mechanism and the reciprocating means are not described in detail in order to simplify presentation of the invention. Such conventional vending machines 11 were designed for relatively short packs of cigarettes. Accordingly, the supporting shelf 15 is relatively short. Consequently, when ejector means 16 is moved forward to displace ultimate pack 17, as when reciprocating means 13 is pulled forward for the particular rack associated with ejector 16, there is a tilting of the packs of cigarettes. Specifically, as ultimate pack 17 is moved forward by ejector means 16, it protrudes too far beyond shelf 15 before its bottom is beyond the center of gravity of the remaining packs and it tilts, tilting the remaining packs thereabove, illustrated as respective packs 19, 20 and 21. If the machine is jiggled or otherwise vibrated at this stage of vending, multiple packs of cigarettes can be slid from the rack.

The difficulties of multiple vending of packs from a given rack is alleviated by the insertion of a pack retaining means operating as described hereinbefore. A preferred embodiment is formed generally as illustrated in FIG. 2. The pack retaining means comprises an elongated member 27, mounting means for attaching the elongated member to the machine, and having spring means urging the elongated member toward a fiat surface on the other side of the packs, illustrated by spring 29. The mounting means has apertures 31 for receiving attaching means for attaching it to a member such as a cross brace of the machine. Moreover, mounting means 29 is attached to elongated member as by brads 33. Attached to each end of elongated member 27 are follower arms 35. Elongated member 27 has a front portion 37 adapted to compressively retain the packs of cigarettes against a horizontal member without distortion of the packs. Front portion 37 may be continuous or in the form of individual fingers.

The operation of the pack retaining means can be seen in cross-section in FIG. 3. Therein spring 29 is mounted to cross brace 39 by sheet metal screw 41 such that front portion 37 of elongated member 27 engages the penultimate pack 19 forcingit against fiat surface 43. In this way packs 19, 20 and 21 are retained in a substantially horizontal position, as are all remaining packs in that rack whereas pack 17 is allowed to tilt and be vended from the machine by action of ejector means 16 pushing it from shelf 15.

At the conclusion of the vend cycle main reciprocating member 45, FIG. 4, carrying wheel 47 returns to its nonvending position. In so doing wheel 47 engages follower arm to pull elongated member 27 into a neutral position by a biasing means that in this instance is a plurality of bending springs 29. The front portion 37 no longer contacts any of the packs in the machine in this neutral position, effected when the machine is not in a vend cycle.

FIG. 5 is a partial isometric view showing the placement of the pack retaining means in the machine. Therein, springs 29 are mounted on cross brace 39 by sheet metal screw 41 through apertures 31. Cross brace 31 is a conventional part that is, ordinarily, spot welded to the main structural member 49 of the machine. Elongated member 27 is held in position by springs 29 substantially parallel with the rows of packs of cigarettes when they are in position. The upright racks which ordinarily contain the packs of cigarettes have been removed in order to show the relationship between the pack retaining means and the main reciprocating member 45 with its wheel 47. Follower member or arm 35 is emplaced behind wheel 47 such that when main reciprocating member 45 is moved toward the rear of the cabinet at the termination of a vend cycle, follower arm 35, via its connection with elongated member 27, pulls the elongated member into the neutral position. As noted hereinbefore, there are two .follower arms, one at each end of the elongated member 27 each engaging and being driven toward the neutral position by wheel 47 of main reciprocating member 45 on each side of the machine.

Ordinarily, the entire works of the machine, which have been illustrated in the figures, are enclosed within a housing that has a normally closed door containing a coin slot for deposition of coins.

Front portion 37 may be made of any material which will effect compression on the packs without distortion thereof. Hence, a resilient strip of material forms an excellent front portion. Preferably, such a resilient front portion also has a relatively high coefficient of friction such that it will hold the penultimate packs in a column in a rack with a frictional force in addition to the compressive force. Sponge rubber forms an excellent material from which to make the resilient front portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction. Other materials such as foamed plastics like polyurethane can be employed.

The mounting means preferably include springs of steel such as illustrated by spring 29. However, other mounting means can be employed and an additional spring used to urge elongated member 27 toward flat surface 43.

In operation, when coins are deposited in the slot, unlocking the coin-controlled mechanism, illustrated by its internal plate 51 in FIG. 5, the respective reciprocating means 13 are free to move. When a reciprocating means 13 is manually actuated, it also actuates main reciprocating member 45 pulling it forward. Follower arm 35 of I the pack retaining means follows wheel 47 mounted on main reciprocating member 45. Accordingly springs 29 urge front portion 37 of elongated member 27 forward into contact with the penultimate row of packs of cigarettes in the vertical racks 53 (FIG. 1). Front portion 37 compressively retains the penultimate row of packs in a substantially horizontal position and prevents tilting. Accordingly, continued pulling of reciprocating means 13 effects movement of ejector means 16, displacing ultimate pack 17 from a vertical rack off of shelf 15. In this way multiple vending during a single vend cycle is prevented regardless of the amount of vibration imparted to the machine.

When the pack has been delivered, and when reciprocating means 13 is returned into position to terminate the vend cycle, main reciprocating member also returns to its neutral position; pushing follower arm 35 which draws elongated member 27 and front portion 37 out of compressive contact with the penultimate row of packs. Elongated member 27 is held in its neutral position until annother vend cycle is effected.

Thus, it can be seen that the pack retaining means of the invention effects compression on the packs of cigarettes only during the vend cycle and is otherwise out of contact with the packs. Thus, it prevents multiple vending without any distortion of the packs and enables continued use of machines designed for short packs even through short packs have been superseded by longer packs. This continued use effects tremendous savings. For

example, a vending machine operator may have several thousand machines costing him $500.00 or more each. If such machines had to be replaced to handle the longer cigarette packs, more than a million dollars or so would be expended by such replacement.

Although the invention has been described with a high degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method of vending merchandise arranged in horizontal rows of vertical columns of elongated packs from a machine designed for short packs and selectively operable in a vend cycle, the steps comprising:

(a) mounting a pack retaining means at a neutral position out of contact with said packs Within said machine, said pack retaining means having the form of a lineal bar having a continuous and lineal, resilient front portion adapted to compressively retain in position a penultimate horizontal row of said packs without distortion thereof;

(h) during a vend cycle, moving said pack retaining means into contact with the penultimate horizontal row of packs and compressively retaining said penultimate horizontal row of packs against a transversely mounted surface for the duration of said vend cycle; and

(c) returning said pack retaining means to said neutral position at the termination of said vend cycle;

whereby tilting of said packs and inadvertent vending of multiple packs during a single vend cycle is prevented.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said pack retaining means is provided with a resilient front portion to allow compression without distortion of said packs.

3. Method of claim 2 wherein said resilient front portion also has relatively high coefiicient of friction and holds said penultimate pack in the column from which the ultimate pack is being vended with a frictional force in addition to said compressive force.

4. In a merchandise vending machine including a plurality of vertical racks adapted to contain columns of stacked, horizontal rows of packs of merchandise to be vended, a flat surface mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of said packs, and a plurality of reciprocating means operable in conjunction with a main reciprocating member responsive to deposition of coins to vend selectively an ultimate pack from a selected rack, the improvement comprising a pack retaining means mounted on a component part of said machine and retained in a neutral position out of contact with any of said packs when said machine is not in a vend cycle and adapted to move into contact with the penultimate row of said packs at the beginning of a vend cycle to exert a compressive force on the penultimate horizontal row of said packs against said flat surface during said vend cycle, said compressive force being sufficient to retain said penultimate pack in said selected rack in position and prevent tilting but not so great as to effect appreciable distortion of said pack; said pack retaining means consisting essentially of an elongated member substantially parallel with said horizontal rows of said packs and having a continuous and lineal, resilient front portion, mounting means attaching said elonagted member to said machine and having spring means urging said elongated member toward said flat surface, and follower member adapted to move said elon- 5. In a vending machine, having a housing including a normally closed door, a combination comprising:

(a) a plurality of substantially vertically arranged racks each adapted to contain a stack of long packs to be vended;

(b) ejector mechanisms associated one with each rack, said ejector mechanisms being selectively operable to eject the lowermost pack from its related rack and movable in conjunction with a main reciprocating member responsive to deposition of coins into said machine;

(c) a flat surface adjacent one end of each of said penultimate packs in said vertical racks; and

(d) pack retaining means consisting essentially of an elongated member substantially parallel with said packs in rows in said vertical racks and having a front portion adapted to simultaneously engage said packs, mounting means attaching said elongated member to said machine and having spring means urging said elongated member toward-said flat surface, and a follower member arm 35 carried by said elongated member arm 35 carried by said elongated member and adapted to move said elongated member away from said flat member and out of contact with said packs in response to movement of said main reciprocating member at the end of a vend cycle;

whereby said pack retaining means is retained in a neutral position out of contact with any of said packs when said machine is not in a vend cycle and is moved forward into contact with the penultimate row of said packs at the beginning of a vend cycle to exert a compressive force on the penultimate horizontal row of said packs against said flat surface during said vend cycle, said compressive force being suflicient to retain said packs in position and prevent tilting in the rack from which the bottom pack is being vended but not so great as to effect appreciable distortion of said packs.

6. The vending machine of claim 5 wherein said elongated member is a lineal bar having a resilient front portion afiixed thereto.

7. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein said lineal bar is of L-shaped cross-section and is made from sheet metal.

8. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein said resilient front portion is continuous along said lineal bar.

9. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein said follower member is an L-shaped bracket attached to each end of said elongated member, the outwardly extending base of said L-shaped bracket following behind a wheel mounted on said main reciprocating member.

10. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein said spring means is a plurality of spring steel fingers attached at one end to said elongated member and attached at the other end to said machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,032,211 5/1962 Wordsworth 221----251 X 3,058,613 10/1962 Krakauer 221-251 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner 

